Overview

Diazepam

Prescription vs.OTC:Prescription by Doctor required

About Diazepam

Diazepam is an anticonvulsant and belongs to a group of drugs called benzodiazepine. It is used to treat anxiety disorders, alcohol withdrawal symptoms and muscle spasms. It is sometimes used in combination with other medications to treat seizures. It also provides sedation before medical procedures. It works by increasing the effect of the neurotransmitter gamma-Aminobutyric acid which calms the brain and nerves. It can be taken by mouth, inserted into the rectum, injected into muscle, or injected into a vein.

Common side effects include trouble with coordination and sleepiness. Serious side effects rarely occur. They include suicidal thoughts, an increased risk of seizures and a decreased breathing rate. Occasional agitation or excitement may occur. Long term use of this medicine can result in dependence, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms on dose reduction. Abruptly discontinuing the medicine after long-term use can be potentially dangerous. After stopping, cognitive problems may persist for six months or longer. It is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to diazepam or similar drugs, or if you have a muscle weakness disorder, severe liver disease, a severe breathing problem, sleep apnea, alcoholism, or addiction to drugs similar to diazepam. Before taking the medicine, inform your doctor if you have glaucoma, epilepsy or other seizure disorder, a history of mental illness, depression, or suicidal thoughts.

Diazepam should only be used for only a short period of time. It may increase the risk of habit forming tendency if taken for a long duration or at larger doses. Do not abruptly stop taking this medicine as it may cause withdrawal symptoms like convulsions, tremor, behavioural disorder and anxiety. When given into a vein, effects begin in one to five minutes and last up to an hour. While using this medicine, you may need to take frequent blood tests at your doctor’s clinic.

Information given here is based on the salt and content of the medicine. Effect and uses of medicine may vary from person to person. It is advicable to consult a Psychiatrist before using this medicine.

Not recommended in the patients with known case of narrow-angle glaucoma.

What are the side effects of Diazepam ?

In addition to its intended effect, Diazepam may cause some unwanted effects too. In such cases, you must seek medical attention immediately. This is not an exhaustive list of side effects. Please inform your doctor if you experience any adverse reaction to the medication.

Diazepam is a kind of benzodiazepine which acts as a inhibitory neurotransmitter. It increases the conduction of the chloride ions in the neuronal cell membrane. This reduces the arousal of the limbic and cortical systems in the central nervous system.

What are the interactions for Diazepam ?

Whenever you take more than one medicine, or mix it with certain foods or beverages, you"re at risk of a drug interaction.

Interaction with Disease

Glaucoma
Major

Diazepam is known to increase the fluid pressure inside the eye. It is contraindicated in acute narrow-angle glaucoma which is an eye disorder.

Seizures
Major

The sudden stop of Diazepam may cause withdrawal effects and can precipitate seizures. The dose should be reduced gradually. Do not stop taking this medicine without consulting the doctor.

Interaction with Alcohol

Alcohol
Major

Consumption of alcohol with this medicine is not recommended as it increases the risk of side effects like dizziness, difficulty in concentration. Do not perform activities that require mental alertness like driving or operating machinery.

Interaction with Lab Test

Lab

Information not available.

Interaction with Food

Grape fruit juice
Moderate

Grapefruit juice should be consumed with Diazepam. Alternatively, you can consume orange juice which does not affect the medicine.

Interaction with Medicine

Cetirizine
Moderate

Use of Diazepam with cetirizine or levocetirizine should be avoided if possible. Do not operate heavy machinery if you are using these medicines. Appropriate dose adjustments or replacement of the medicine should be made under the doctor's supervision.

Metoclopramide
Moderate

Use of Diazepam with metoclopramide should be avoided if possible. Do not operate heavy machinery if you are using these medicines. Appropriate dose adjustments or replacement of the medicine should be made under the doctor's supervision.

Opoids
Major

Opioids like morphine, codeine, tramadol, hydrocodone or any cough preparations containing these medicines should be avoided when you are on Diazepam or other benzodiazepines. Appropriate dose adjustments are to be made if coadministration is needed and monitoring of sedation, breathlessness, and hypotension is necessary.

Azole antifungal agents
Moderate

Azole antifungal agents like ketoconazole and itraconazole should be avoided when you are Diazepam due to the risk of increased concentrations of the medicine in the body which may cause increased sedation and changes in ECG. Inform the doctor if you are receiving these medicines when you are prescribed with Diazepam. If coadministration is needed then alternative medicines like lorazepam and oxazepam could be considered.

Antihypertensives
Moderate

You may experience hypotensive effects like dizziness, lightheadedness if these medicines are used together. Regular monitoring of blood pressure is necessary. Appropriate dose adjustments or replacement of the medicine should be made under the doctor's supervision.

User feedback for Diazepam

What are you using Diazepam for?

Anxiety

Relieve muscle spasm

Other

Alcohol Withdrawal

Seizure disorder

endoscopic procedures

How much was the improvement?

Average

Poor

How long did it take before seeing improvement?

More than 2 days

Within 2 hours

Within 2 days

Within 6 hours

How frequently did you take this medicine?

Twice a day

Once a day

Thrice a day

How did you take this medicine?

With Food

With or without food

What were the side effects of this medicine?

Loss of appetite

Dry Mouth

Disclaimer: The information produced here is best of our knowledge and experience and we have tried our best to make it as accurate and up-to-date as possible, but we would like to request that it should not be treated as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Lybrate is a medium to provide our audience with the common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. Even if there is no mention of a warning for any drug or combination, it never means that we are claiming that the drug or combination is safe for consumption without any proper consultation with an expert.

Lybrate does not take responsibility for any aspect of medicines or treatments. If you have any doubts about your medication, we strongly recommend you to see a doctor immediately.

Popular Questions & Answers

Proton pump inhibitors temporarily block the production of gastric acid in stomach in response to food and are helpful in acid peptic symptoms or reflux diseases.
Diazepam is a benzodiazepine, along acting one. In different dosages as required it is used for anxiety, epilepsy, anti withdrawal management etc.
Misuse and overuse or injudicious use of diazepam can cause dependence on the drug, overdose can cause inability to walk, giddiness, syncope and coma.
Diazepam may cause dis inhibited behaviour in some individuals etc.

You are happily substituting one substance with another. In other words, you probably have an addictive personality for various reasons and may need top enter a rehabilitation program to completely deal with the issue of addiction. All these substances are known to cause damage to your system and are therefore ill-advised.

Already another doctor answered that it may be a sleep disorder. You need to get diagnosed and assessed properly by a psychiatrist.
Both diazepam and clonazepam are of the same group of drugs called benzodiazepine. Both have addiction potential in vulnerable persons. The sedation is for longer time in diazepam than clonazepam. Both are dose dependent. Knowing these, if you still want a benzodiazepine only, clonazepam is better, because it acts only for 6-8 hours.

Popular Health Tips

CERTIFICATION IN BACH FLOWER REMEDIES OF ENGLAND, Ph.D DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN BIOCHEMISTRY, B.S.M.S BACHELOR OF SIDDHA MEDICINE AND SURGERY,

Alternative Medicine Specialist,

Nutrition and dietary supplements for insomnia:

A carbohydrate snacks of cereal and crackers with milk before bed may help because food rich in carbohydrates and low in protein and fat may boost the production of serotonin and melatonin, brain chemicals thought to promote sleep.

L-tryptophan: it is thought to bring on sleep by raising serotonin.

Melatonin: 1-3 mg of the melatonin is recommended for sleep, but as little as 0.3mg has been used successfully.

Valerian: it act as a mild sedative and improve both the ability to fall asleep and the quality of sleep.

Kava kava: it is effective for insomnia. Kava kava and diazepam induce similar changes in brain wave activity.

Other herbs that a professional herbalist may use to treat insomnia include: Passion flower, hops, jamaica dogwood, lemon balm, lavender flower, german chamomile, mother wort, gotukola, and skullcap.Massage therapy with essential oil, particularly lavender may result in improved sleep quality, more stable mood, increased mental capacity and reduced anxiety.

Cerebral Palsy is a disorder related to the posture, movement or muscle tone, mostly due to immature development of the brain in a baby. This condition usually crops up, when the baby is already in the womb. The symptoms may surface when the baby is in its infancy or even later. Irregularities in the reflexes, posture, walking style, etc should ring a bell for the parents. Kids suffering from cerebral palsy may also suffer from muscle imbalance of the eye muscles, leading to problems focusing on an object. The range of motions becomes limited as well. There could be conditions such as deafness, epilepsy, impaired brain function and blindness associated with this disease.

Whom to consult for cerebral palsy in kids?
A kid suffering from Cerebral Palsy might have to work with a medical team for a very long time. Parents might need the help of a paediatrician, orthopaedic surgeon, paediatric neurologist, physical therapist, speech-language pathologist, mental health specialist, developmental therapist, recreation therapist and special education teacher.

Treatments that are available for Cerebral Palsy in kids Medication:

Medications: Medications are often used to improve the functional abilities of a kid. Certain spasticity related complications, treatment of pain, and other symptoms of Cerebral Palsy can be treated with medications. It is important to discuss with the doctor, the side-effects involved in taking the medication. There are two types of medications- for isolated spasticity and for generalized spasticity. In case of Isolated spasticity, doctors recommend Botox injections every 4-6 months to stabilize one muscle group. If the whole body is affected due to cerebral palsy, doctors recommend medications such as baclofen, diazepam and dantrolene to relax the contracted and stiff muscles.

Therapies: While there are many therapy treatment, three types of therapies are the most important for treating a child suffering from cerebral palsy. They are physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech& language therapy. Physical therapy is necessary for the flexibility, mobility and motor development of the child. Occupational therapy helps a kid imbibe alternative strategies to participate in daily activities. From teaching a child to walk with a cane to help them operate a wheelchair, physical therapy makes a child self-sufficient as much as possible. Speech and language therapy helps child’s ability to communicate either verbally or with sign-language.

Surgery: Surgery may be necessary to loosen the muscles, correct abnormalities of the bone etc. An orthopaedic surgery is necessary in cases where a kid was born with several deformities. The correction can decrease pain and increase mobility. In severe cases when the normal treatments do not help, doctors cut the tendon of spastic muscle. It helps to relieve the pain and relax the muscle.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Meniere’s disease is a condition of the middle ear, the exact cause of which is not known. If often affects one ear and affects adults who are aged over 40. It is diagnosed by few characteristic symptoms:

There could be periods of dizziness, where the patient falls, known as “drop attacks.” These attacks are followed by long periods with no symptoms whatsoever. It is unpredictable and so a patient can never really be prepared for an attack. While it is not easy to diagnose the condition, doctors do a detailed history to confirm the diagnosis. Hearing test, CT scan, and MRI may be used to confirm the diagnosis.

Management: There is no definitive treatment for this condition. However, various options have been proposed, and many people have found them to be helpful. Some commonly used measures including diet and cognitive therapy are listed below:

Medications: There is no medication to attack the root cause. Medicines are used often to control dizziness, which is the most irritating symptom of this condition. Meclizine and diazepam are often used. In some people, gentamicin or corticosteroid injections are used. However, long-term use of gentamicin can cause hearing loss.

Dietary changes: When a detailed history is taken, there are patterns which indicate that increased caffeine, chocolate, or alcohol worsen the symptoms. These are reduced with an intent to reduce the symptoms

Pulse treatment: A pulse of air is pushed through to the inner ear, which helps in symptom relief. This device fits into the outer ear, and when the pulse of air is pushed through, it improves fluid circulation within the middle ear, which is believed to be a cause for the condition.

Labyrinthitis is a very common disease related to audiology in which the person suffers from an inner ear medical disorder. The two vestibular nerves present inside the inner portion of the ears send information to the brain about spatial navigation and also balance control. Now, when any of these two nerves become inflamed due to some reason, it causes Labyrinthitis.

The symptoms of this disorder are easily identifiable and the person is treated generally based on the kind of symptoms he or she is experiencing.

Symptoms:

Even though the symptoms may disappear after a few days, a chronic Labyrinthitis will continue to affect after that as well.

So if you are suffering from any of these medical problems then you must visit an audiologist immediately and treat the condition in a proper manner.

Diagnosis And Treatment

The doctor will conduct different physical examination and other tests which will help him or her to detect the real problem. Hearing tests, blood tests, a CT or MRI scan of the head and even electroencephalogram can be used to diagnose the patient. Once the real cause of the disease gets traced, the doctor will prescribe medication accordingly.

Medical Detoxification is a process that systematically and safely withdraws people from addicting drugs, usually under the care of a physician. Drinking alcohol or using drugs can cause physical dependence over time and stopping them can result in withdrawal symptoms in people with this dependence. The detoxification process is designed to treat the immediate bodily effects of stopping drug use and to remove toxins left in the body as a result of the chemicals found in drugs and/or alcohol.

While at the present time, no proven pharmacologic therapy for cocaine addiction exists, several kinds of medications have been used in the detoxification of cocaine. Withdrawal from chronic cocaine use produces anxiety, depression and intense cravings for the drug. Several types of medications address these issues in different ways.

Antidepressant drugs such as desipramine or a combination of phentermine and fenfluramine have been used to reduce cocaine withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety and depression. Benzodiazepines, tranquilizers such as Diazepam, have been used to reverse anxiety induced by cocaine withdrawal. Amantadine, a drug used to treat Parkinson's Disease, may be an effective treatment for cocaine-dependent patients with severe cocaine withdrawal symptoms and may reduce cocaine craving. Bromocriptine, a drug that works on the brain's dopamine system, has been used to decrease the craving for cocaine during detoxification and to reduce mood disturbance.

Propanolol, a beta-blocker drug used to treat high blood pressure, may be useful for severe cocaine withdrawal symptoms, as it slows down the effects of adrenaline, thereby calming the body's "fight or flight" response to stressful situations. This type of drug has been used to treat general anxiety and anxiety associated with alcohol withdrawal. Propranolol's lessening of symptoms such as palpitations and sweating has helped reduce cocaine craving. Its use, however, is not risk free in patients who have taken cocaine and can be associated with decreased blood flow to the heart and other changes that predispose patients to arrhythmia and a severe increase in blood pressure that can lead to a stroke. Delayed toxic effects are possible. Any use of beta-blockers in this setting requires careful monitoring and caution